KathyG

I ordered some bits for DS from Planet Dance recently and I had to chase to find they weren't in stock and would be another week which was far to late for us. Cancelled order from them rung Dance Direct and paid for next day delivery and the items promptly appeared the next day. I do feel for them if it is a new computer system when ours at work was just upgraded we had terrible problems and just the last week changes were made which have caused real issues as well. We never expect these things to go smoothly anymore.

Not many it was about the same as Tring. It's a shame the government don't still publish the report which showed how many places were at each school and how much money was spent on the scheme. edited to add last sentence

Very unlikely any local authority will have any funds. Even if you think well we're saving you money by not attending the local school the authority will reply if you're not at one of out schools we don't get the money for you! They then refer you to the MDS!

They will usually tell you how many and of which style to buy. They don't very often get to wear one of their own choice. Maybe once a term for a mufty class.

Nor our year at Elmhurst. Royal and Central often keep students back a year rather than ask them to leave. We did hear of one though who didn't make it to 2nd year at another school.

DS had travel insurance when auditioning as he was only out of the country for a couple of days. Now working abroad travel insurance doesn't cover him and he has insurance provided by the company.

Aren't these the same as Spannerandpony mentioned earlier in the thread from JustBallet!

One summer hols I suggested that DD and DS get the bus and meet me at work. I got a call from them to say the bus had gone by on the other side of the road! They thought it didn't matter which side of the road they stood. Something DS was to repeat a few more times. Including the time a few of his friends and DS got a bus into Birmingham when he said this is the way I come into school. They were heading away from Birmingham. He has finally got better but is waiting for us to visit him in Poland before he gets on a bus there.

It does seem to soon to do the assessments but I can see the reasoning behind it. When DS was assessed out it was in the days when schools still had auditions available after the Feb half term which made it much easier. Now that the schools don't appear to have auditions much passed January it must make it much harder to rearrange DC future schooling if you don't find out that you're being assessed out until the middle of Feb half term. As to warnings lower years may not even have had a parent/teacher meeting with the dance teacher to give them a clue and with assessments in Nov probably no school report either. We were given a bit of a hint at the parent/teacher meeting the term before. Though they wouldn't commit when asked. We never received any written notice that he was not meeting the required standard. Also agree with Hfbrew about support being offered by current school in finding the next school, as when we were assessed out there was none at all. Would have been much easier if we had someone to talk rather than a brief call with the Ballet Principal about why they were assessed out. Never did find out why he was assessed out. We had to act very quickly to get auditions at other schools. If they are assessed out as others can also vouch for it's not the end of the road as both Juliew and myself can both now say as both our DS's are professional ballet dancers.

My DS suffered with bullying at both schools he attended and the schools dealt with it quite well but one boy they never really got under control. The schools have been known to suspend children for bullying and in one case a child was asked to leave one of the schools. My DS has also voiced that he would like to go on pointe, he would insist on going around on his toes in his jazz sneakers. Doesn't Bottom do some pointe in RB's The Dream?

If it's a tummy bug they are very quick to send them home as they don't want it spreading through the school.

They will also appreciate letters and parcels from Granny/Aunty/Sister etc. My sister use to call DS on his walk to school while she walked her dogs something they are both currently missing.

Our Saturday boy has just gone of to Leeds uni and said he wouldn't see his family for 3 months as he wouldn't be able to get home. A long time when it's your first time away from home.

As it says for the 2014/2015 school year I very much doubt they know what the sliding scale will be. We have only just started school year 2013/2014. It does change slightly every ear.

I remember being in a history lesson when Concorde took it's first flight out of Heathrow and we all jumped to see it. I also remember watching it take off standing right next to the runway at Heathrow something I took my DC to see. A colleague's husband worked on Concorde until it retired and she was always miffed that he got to fly on her and she didn't. He was lucky enough to go on the final flight out to Barbados. I also got very emotional on its last flight into Heathrow I was stuck in a traffic jam taking DS to Ballet as Concorde flew over getting ready to land we pulled out of the jam to watch it fly over. It was the only plane we ever heard fly over us and we don't live far from Heathrow we also went out to take a look. We still look at the hanger where Concorde could often be seen when we go pass Heathrow.

Graduate placement is staying at school and doing some admin work and taking class for a couple of terms while continuing to audition for contracts.

At long last Elmhurst have put up their 2013 graduates on the website. (gentle prod this morning may have had something to do with it) http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/graduate-employment.html Well done to them all from a very proud mum who's DS is in his first professional performance this evening.

My DS didn't get 5 GCSE's but was still offered a place at Central and Elmhurst.

When we were JA's many many years ago the teacher held a meeting for boys and parents to talk about applying for year 7 and to give us the opportunity to ask questions. With Elmhurst we applied early and there were only about 8 in the audition so very relaxed. With W/L no choice on date unless you are lucky enough to be near more than one location.

The fees are in the parents area of the website, they are also for 2011/2012.

There were very few in DS year at Elmhurst none of the boys but a few girls. The majority were British.

Poland

We always left it for DS to call us when it suited him. We didn't want him to be disturbed by us if he was busy. He usually called every few days. For us it worked. He suffered with homesickness but was generally to busy for it to effect him. I nearly posted a week or so ago as DS was on the phone in tears and he is now so far away there is little I can do to help. I had to give the phone to another family member who just chatted a load of rubbish to him which calmed us all down. He is used to having lots of people around him which now he doesn't. What a difference a week makes last night I had a very smiley happy DS on the phone saying how good it is going. He is slowly making new friends though language is a barrier. I can't say it gets easier while at school we saw him regularly now it will have been nearly 2 months when we see him. Wishing you all the best and at least we have phones and the Internet.

That might explain why my DS is obsessed with Audrey Hepburn. His most favourite dancer is Tamara and his room is filled with pictures of Audrey. He tried to take them with him to Poland but they didn't fit in the suitcase.

Does anyone know of adult tap in the Runnymede, Woking area. We're looking to going back to Tap but have 3 different levels. DD Adv 2+, Me reasonable and a friend who is getting there. Tried one this week but she won't run with less than 8 people and friend found it to advanced. We just want a class with bit of fun.